Wire-stretcher.



J. G. CLARK.

WIRE STRETCH-ER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY2|.1915.

Patented Jan. 30, 1917.

mr gums grens m. nom-uma. vusumamn. n c.

IIITED TES TEN FFIQE.

JOSEPH G. CLARK, OF BULLARD, TEXAS.

WIRE-STRETCHER.

LZilS-ti.

Application filed May 21, 1915.

To all 107mm t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH G. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bullard, in the county of Smith and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lVire-Stretchers; and I do hereby declare the 'following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

'Ihe invention relates to improvements in wire stretchers.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of wire stretchers and to provide a simple, etlicient and comparatively inexpensive construction designed for use in connection with various stretching means and adapted to be connected with the line wires of a fence or the longitudinal wires of woven wire fencing and capable ot' enabling such wires to be simultaneously stretched to a uniform tension without permitting any of the individual wires to slip and without breaking the connecting stay wires.

A further object of the invention is to provide a connecting and wire clamping device eapable of enabling the wire clamping means to be arranged at diierent points to adaptthe device to the character of fence and the position of the wires to be stretched, as well as to the number of the wires composing the fence.

W ith these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement ot parts hereinafter fully described7 illustratedin the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claim hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing Figure l is a side elevation of a wire stretcher constructed in accordance with this invention, Fig. 2 an enlarged side elevation oit one ot the wire clamps, Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view on the line 3-3 ot' Fig. 2, Fig. fl is a detail view of the cam lever.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawing.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 30, i917.

serial No. 29,592.

In the drawing in which is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention, l designates a vertical bar constructed of `suitable metal and provided at intervals with notches 2 adapted to be engaged by oblong links 3 slidably arranged on. the bar and connected with wire clamps rl`he vertical bar l which may be of any desired length may be provided with any suitable number of notches to permit the wire engaging clamp to be arranged at different points along the bar to adapt it to the kind of fence to be stretched and the number of longitudinal wires composing such fence, which may be either woven wire or single line wires. As fences are made of diferent heights and include a greater or less number of line wires the bar l may be equipped with any desired number of wire engaging clamps to adapt it for operating on the various types of wire fences. After the links of the wire clamps have been arranged on the bar l they are retained thereon and prevented from accidentally slipping oft the same by end lugs which are bent outwardly beyond the plane of the link 3.

Each of the wire clamps comprises a substantially L-shaped bar 6 having an eye 7 at one end to receive the link 3 and is provided at the other end with a short laterally extending arm 8 arranged vertically when in useand having a terminal jaw 9. The jaw 9 which is formed by an approximately L-shaped Vflange has a wire rcceiving groove l() and adapted to engage a fence wire therein. The jaw 8 is provided at the bottom of the groove with an inclined or angularly disposed wall or portion l2 arranged at an acute angle to the outer side olf the `iaw and adapted to cause the wire to become wedged between it and the said outer wall of the groove when pressure is applied to the wire by a cam lever 18. The cam lever 13 which is mounted on a pivot lt has a notch or serrated edge l5 curved longitudinally of the head o't the lever and adapted to prevent the wire trom slip1i ing through the groove ot the jaw. The cani lever is provided with a suitable handle 16 and when its serrated or notched edge engages a 'fence wire it is maintained in such engagement by the strain on the wire so that there is no liability of the wire slipping through the jaw of the clamp. The clamps are adapted to be quickly applied to the wire to be stretched and they may stretching operation has been completed.

Any suitable Stretching means may be .connected with the vertical bar 1 which is equipped with chains 17 provided with hooks 18 for engaging in the bar 1 as at 19. The chains which are connected at their adjacent ends by a link 20 diverge forwardly and they are adapted to be readily hooked into and disengaged from the opening 19 to permit an adjustment-of the clamps located between the sides of the chains. This will enable any arrangement of the clamps to be made to suit requirements of the fence to be stretched.

Vhat is claimed iS:-

A wire clamp comprising a bar, an eye at one end of said bar, a connecting link secured in said eye, a short laterally extending arm secured at one end to the free end of the bar and arranged at 'right Vangles thereto, the end of Said shorter arm being inclined downwardlyv Yand then bent upwardly forming a wire receiving jaw, the bottom of said Wall of said jaw inclined or angularly disposed and arranged at an acute angle to the outer side of the jaw adapted to cause the wire to become wedged between it and the said outer wall of the jaw, a cani lever pivotally secured to the shorter arm, Said lever adapted kto Wedge the Wire into'the groove of the jaw.

' In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VJOE G. CLARK. Witnesses:

A. B VCAWTHORN, KATE CARPENTER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner ,of Patents, Washington, D. C.

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